Fence-making machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l'.

J. E. FISHER'. FENCE MAKINGMAGHINB.

No. 437,344. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. E. FISHER.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE. No. 437,344. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

, muullsirrm mulil'" Hummm Wuunmmmmunfmmwunvmm l 1 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JoIIN E. FISHER, oF FnANKFoRT, oHIo.

FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,344, dated September 30, 1890. Application ned nay 12, 1890, serai No. 351,496. (No moar-.1.5

terwoven; and it has Vfor its object to con'- struct a machine of this class which'shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particu- ,larly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a section of fence in process of construction by my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the twisting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective detailview of the tension mechanism. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail view of said tension mechanism. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view showing the S-shaped securing-hooks in position for operation.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The twisting mechanism of my improved fence-machine comprises an upright 1, mounted upon a base or sill2, and provided atits upper end with a handle 3,bymeans of which it may be securely held while in operation, the foot of the operator being placed upon the sill 2. The front side or edge of the upright l is provid ed with a vertical groove 4, forming a bearing for a vertically-sliding rod or bar 5, which is mounted between arms or brackets 6 6, extending forwardly from the upright 1, to the sides of which the said arms or brackets may be secured by means of screws, bolts, or in any suitable manner. The arms or brackets 6 are arranged in pairs, as shown, and there may be any desired number of pairs of said arms or brackets, according to the number of strands of wires which the fence is desired to have. In the drawings hereto annexed three pairs of such arms or posed of a segmental body 8, provided with teeth or spurs 9, engaging the rack-teeth 10, formed upon the front side of the verticallysliding bar 5. The outer end of each of the segmental bodies of the twisting-heads is prolvided with a Itransverse bar 11, the outer ends :of which are provided vwith transverse slots 12, forming seats for'the wires which are to be operated upon. The vertically-sliding bar 5 at the ends of each of its toothed sections 10 is provided with recesses 13, adapted to receive the notched ends of the transverse bars at the outer ends of the twisting-heads. The vertically-reciprocating bar 5, having the ltoothed or rack sections 10, is provided with a suitably-located handle 14, by means of which it may be conveniently manipulated.

The-tension .device of my improved fencemachine is composed of a frame having three uprights or vertical standards 15, suitably connected by means of transverse bolts, 'upon which spacing-blocks 16 are interposed'be,

tween the said uprights. The'frame is thus divided into two separate Vertical compartments, in each of which is journaled a series of horizontal shafts 17, `having drums 18 and provided at their outer ends with square posts 19 to receive a key or wrench, by means of which the said shafts may be conveniently manipulated. Each of the said shafts is also provided with a ratchet-wheel 20, adapted to engage a pawl 21, pivoted to the side of `the frame. The number of pairs of horizontal shafts is equal to the number of strands of wire that the fence is desired to have. One side of the frame is provided near its upper end with notches 22, adapted to receive the upper end of a bracing-frame-QS, which is placed in an inclined position adjacent to the tension device. Suitable sills 24 and stakes 25 are employed to retain the tension 'device and the inclined bracing-frame in the desired position for operation.

In operation the wires are attached to the end post of the fence in pairs by means of staples or in any convenient manner, and the opposite ends of said wires are attached to 3 5 in the opposite direction.

5o smalll expense.

the drums 18 upon the shafts 17 of the tension device, which is erected at the opposite end of the line of the fence. By applying the wrench successively to the posts or seats at 5 the outer ends of the shafts 17 the said shafts may now be revolved in their bearings, thus Winding the wires upon the drums 18 until the desired degree of tension is attained. The shafts having the winding-drums are relo tained securelyin the positions to which they are adjusted by the ratchet-wheels 2O on said shafts engaging the pawls 2l. The twisting device is now applied to the wires at the starting-point by adjusting the two wires of each pair in the opposite notches of each twistinghead. To retain the wires securely in the notches of the twisting-head, I connectthe opposite wires of each pair by means of double or S-shaped hooks 30, which are moved zo# up kclosely against the twisting-head, thereby 2 5 the twisting device, after which the reciprocating bar 5 of the latter is raised, thereby causing the twisting-heads to make a onehalf revolution and causing a single twist to be imparted to the wires. The twisting deo vice is'now moved a sufficient distance upon the wires to admit of another slat or picket being inserted, after which the reciprocating bar 5 is lowered, thereby oscillating the twisting-heads and twisting or crossing the wires The twisting device is now again moved and the operation proceeded with in the manner already described until the fence has been inished. As the successive posts of the fence are passed 4o the wires are stapled or otherwise secured thereto.

` If necessary at any time during the operation VofI the construction of the fence, the tension may be loosened to compensate for the amount of wire consumed in making the twists.

My improved fen ce-machine, as will be seen from the foregoing description, is simple in construction and may be manufactured at a It is also capable of being easily manipulated without the use of skilled labor. Owing to the construction of the twisting-heads and the recesses 13 in the reciprocating bar 5 for the reception of the notched end bars of said twisting-heads, the wires during operation will be held securely and without danger of escaping from the notches of the twisting-heads.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a fence-machine, theherein-described twisting device, comprising an upright provided with a foot-piece and having a handle at its upper end, the-arms or brackets secured in pairs to opposite sides of said upright and extending forwardly from the same, a 'bar mounted to slide vertically in a groove in the front side of said upright between the forwardly-extending arms of the same, said bar being provided with an operating-handle, toothed or rack sections with recesses at the upper and lower ends of each of said sections, and the segmental toothed twistingheads journaled between the outer ends of the arms or brackets and engaging the said Vrack-sections and provided at their outer lends with transverse bars, the ends of which bars are provided with transverse slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.v

2. In a fence-machine, the twistingV mechanism having the vertically-reciprocating bar having toothed or rack sections and provided with recesses at the upper and lower ends of veach of said rack-sections, combined with the oscillating twisting-heads having teeth to engage the said rack-sections, the outer ends of which heads are provided with bars having transverse notches at their ends which engage the recesses at the ends of the rack-sections, said heads being held between arms projecting from an upright having a groove in which the vertically-reciprocating rack-bar slides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In a fencemachine, the combination, with the twisting mechanism having the os'- cillating twisting-heads provid ed with notches for the reception of the pairs of wires, of the double or S-shaped hooks connecting the wires of each pair adjacent to the twistinghead to retain said wires ,in said notches, substantially as set forth. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. FISHER.

Vitnesses:

JOHN BROWN, JOHN W. DoNoHoE.

IOO 

